Masese 31
1 Maloba ya mokonzi Lemweli, mateya oyo mama na ye ateyaki ye:
The words of King Lemuel—the revelation which his mother taught him:
2 Eh mwana na ngai ya mobali, mwana oyo abimi na libumu na ngai, mwana mobali oyo nalapelaka ndayi:
“Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3 Kosilisa makasi na yo na basi te, komitika te na basi oyo bapengwisaka bakonzi!
Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 Eh Lemweli, ebongi te mpo na bakonzi; te, ebongi te mpo na bato minene kotuna: « Wapi masanga ya makasi? »
It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5 Noki te soki bameli yango, bakobosana mibeko mpe bakokata na bosembo te makambo ya banyokolami.
lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6 Pesa masanga ya makasi epai ya bato oyo balingi kokufa, mpe vino epai ya bato oyo bazali kotungisama na motema.
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.
7 Tika bango bamela mpo ete babosana pasi na bango mpe batika kokanisa lisusu minyoko na bango.
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Fungola monoko na yo mpo na kolobela bato oyo bazali na makoki ya koloba te, mpe mpo na kolongisa bato oyo bazanga basungi.
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 Fungola monoko na yo mpe sambisa na bosembo, bundela babola mpe bato oyo bakelela.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
10 Nani akoki komona mwasi ya lokumu? Azali na motuya koleka babiju ya talo.
Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.
11 Mobali na ye atielaka ye motema mpe azangaka te biloko ya motuya.
The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12 Tango nyonso ya bomoi na ye, apesaka mobali na ye esengo, kasi mawa te;
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 alukaka bapwale ya meme mpe basinga ya lino, bongo maboko na ye etongaka yango na esengo.
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14 Azali lokola masuwa ya bato ya mombongo, akendaka koluka bilei na ye mosika;
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15 alamukaka wana butu ezali nanu, abongisaka bilei mpo na ndako na ye mpe akabolelaka basali na ye ya basi misala.
She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16 Soki asepeli na elanga, asombaka yango; mpe na mbuma ya misala na ye, alonaka elanga ya vino.
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 Akangaka loketo na ye makasi mpe akembisaka maboko na ye na mosala.
She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 Amonaka ete mombongo na ye etambolaka malamu; mpe kino na butu, mwinda na ye ekokufa te.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19 Maboko na ye esimbaka mitonga oyo batongelaka, mpe misapi na ye etongaka bilamba.
She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 Afungolaka loboko na ye mpo na kokabela babola, mpe asembolaka yango mpo na kosunga bato bakelela.
She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21 Tango mvula ya pembe ekitaka, abangaka eloko moko te mpo na ndako na ye, pamba te bato nyonso kati na ndako na ye balataka bilamba ya malili.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 Asalaka babulangeti mpo na mbeto na ye mpe alataka bilamba na ye ya lino ya kitoko mpe ya motane.
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Bapesaka mobali na ye lokumu, na ekuke ya engumba, tango avandaka elongo na bakambi ya mokili.
Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 Asalaka bilamba ya lino mpe atekaka yango, asalaka mombongo ya mikaba.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Alataka lokola elamba: molende na mosala mpe lokumu; mikolo ya lobi ebangisaka ye te, asekaka nde yango.
Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26 Alobaka na bwanya, mpe lolemo na ye epesaka malakisi na bolingo.
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 Azalaka na bokebi na makambo nyonso oyo elekaka na ndako na ye, mpe aliaka lipa na bogoyigoyi te.
She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28 Bana na ye bakotelema mpo na kokumisa ye, mpe tala ndenge mobali na ye mpe akumisaka ye:
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29 « Basi ebele basalaka makambo ya lokumu; kasi yo, oleki bango nyonso! »
“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
30 Bonzenga ya elongi ekosaka, mpe kitoko ya nzoto ezalaka pamba; kasi mwasi oyo atosaka Yawe, ye nde abongi na lokumu.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Bopesa ye bambuma ya misala na ye! Tika ete bapesa ye lokumu, na bikuke ya engumba, mpo na misala nyonso oyo asalaka!
Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
